My journey into dollmaking

Month: October 2017

I needed to take something portable on holiday to do, so I took 4 Appletons wools and a pair of 2mm circular knitting needles to make Arrietty some socks. My first attempt was a bit messy, I was trying to do jogless stripes and the magic loop…….so I undid that. Second attempt a lot better, however when I tried it on Arrietty’s leg (yes I took one leg with me!) it was way too small. So rather than coming back with finished socks, I have none.

However back home and Arrietty has come together quickly – here’s a sneak preview of her. Don’t you just love those freckles?

This is Arrietty, have you heard of her from the Borrowers by Mary Norton? Well, she has a hair dilemma! Originally I wanted her to be a red head with freckles, but the red is very orange and now I’m not sure. Here she is modelling – burnt orange, blue, white and blonde. Which one?

All that tree climbing needed a more suitable outfit. My mum reckoned she needed shorts – so here they are, with and oversized T shirt and those leather Mary Janes. I’m still waiting for the buckles which are on their way from Thailand…..slowly. I also need some really sharp leather cutting scissors to finish the edges off cleanly – these too are arriving …..slowly.

The shorts are made by adapting the pattern by Liberty Jane I didn’t make them high waisted, just used her method.

Nora now has the snuggest of cashmere cardigan, it’s made from an upcycled ebay purchase, and believe me it is so soft. I’ve also made her Mary Jane style shoes using the free pattern by Yvonne Healey it’s the perfect size for her slightly chubby feet!

Connie’s cardigan is finished using the beautiful Jamieson’s of Shetland Spindrift wool in the colour Lichen. It perfectly matches the Bramley apple tree Connie has climbed. I combined two patterns to make it. The design is from that amazing multi pattern I bought from HeyJude6439 but I knitted it with a fake raglan sleeve for a neater finish using the method describe by Cynthia Berrier.

I’ve just come home from the most amazing workshop, my fingers are blistered from all the needle felting but my heart is full of dolls. The teacher was the very lovely Meglena, seen here in the linen apron. At the end of the table you can see Debbie the host of the weekend from Little Oke dolls, Debbie is holding the Lousie who we were all trying to make. I learnt so, so much and I can’t wait to share my ‘Louise’ with you. In the mean time see a picture of step one – make a lollipop on the end of a piece of wire.

Here is all of us with our dolls, okay so not quite finished but they were all so beautiful